Rockett Family

Also recorded as Rockitt or Rocket (and as Rackett on the 1881 Census CD). Much of the detail of this tree would not have been possible without the help of other researchers.

This proposed tree starts from John Rockett (1735-1822). The likely father of John is a Dudley Rockett who must have be born around 1705. However it is not clear if there was just one Dudley Rockett who lived in a number of different towns or several different Dudleys. One possible candidate is a Rev Dudley Rockett who has references in both Bradford and York. But even here the references span almost 50 years. The references are -

1. Dudley Rockett, of Goodman's End (a local place-name associated with the vicariate of the town) is the earliest recorded bookseller and stationer in Bradford, but it is not at all probable that he essayed the craft of printing in any form. Beyond the fact that Rockett's name appears in the list of provincial booksellers given in the "Harleian Miscellany" of 1744, little is known of him in the literary history of Bradford.2. St.Mary, Bishophill Junr. York, Marriages for 1758. John Barber par. St. Martin's, Coney Street & Elizabeth Robinson of this by Lie. Nov. 24 by Dudley Rockett Off. Min. Witns. Jo. Williamson, Jno. Brewster3. Indenture W/j/f 217 16 Jan 1781 Between (1) Dean and Chapter and Rev. Dudley Rockett, deacon and (2) Robert Leadley for the lease of a house in Minster Yard for a term of 40 years at an annual rent of £8. Last renewal 21 Dec 17674. Appointment of Dudley Rockett as preacher to the prisoners in York Castle. W/k/p 25 31 Dec 17845. Rev Dudley Rockett, clerk subchanter etc to Francis Saunders of York, apothecary & Timothy Mortimer of York, gent. Lease of Goodramgate house for 40 years Acc 376/2/42 1 Jun 17856. Rev Dudley Rockett etc to Martin Burnell of York, coach maker. Property in Goodramgate. Renting for 13/4d per year Acc 376/2/64 12 Aug 1793

Thanks to lots of new information, from other researchers, some snippets from the lives of those that left the British Isles can now be published. The current ones are -

William Rockett (1803-1885) who married in Brotherton in 1832 and then emigrated to Pennsylvania, USA around 1858.

George Rockett (1821-1897) of Birkin / Haddlesey who was convicted of burglary in December 1843 and transported to Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean in 1844